A retrospective histopathological survey of capillariasis in raccoons from the eastern United States.

A 7-yr retrospective survey (1986-1993) of 193 raccoons (Procyon lotor) from 4 different geographic locations (South Carolina, Virginia, and 2 sites in Pennsylvania) in the eastern United States was conducted by histopathological examination of various tissues. Lesions indicative of capillariasis were observed in raccoons at all locations. An overall prevalence of 45% was recorded. Highest prevalence of nematodes in tissues (71%) was seen in the rural Pennsylvania site. Nematodes were confined to the mucosa of the anterior alimentary tract (mouth, tongue, esophagus) or urinary system (bladder, urethra) without significant inflammation except for a single raccoon in which Capillaria sp. were present in the tracheal mucosa and within the subjacent lamina propria, with moderate inflammatory cellular infiltrate.